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Bang… bang, bang, bang. A four-goal first period explosion by Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (11-6-3) lifted the team to a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday evening. The Flyers reached the unofficial one quarter mark of the 2025-26 season with an 8-3-2 home record.
Philadelphia set a new franchise record for the fastest three goals in one game. A mere 26 seconds elapsed between the point Matvei Michkov (5th goals of the season) gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead and when the lead swelled to 4-1. Tyson Foerster (6th and 7th goals) struck at 12:15 and 12:32. The Flyers scored four times in a span of three minutes, 32 seconds. After Noah Cates (5th goals of the season) tied the game at 1-1, Cates set up both Foerster tallies.
New Jersey never drew closer than within two goals. The teams traded off one goal apiece in the second period. Bobby Brink (6th) briefly extended the Philly lead to 5-1. The Devils got back within 5-3 in the second and third periods. However, a Trevor Zegras breakaway goal (7th) restored the three-goal margin. Dan Vladar turned aside 32 of 35 shots to earn the win in goal.
Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from Saturday’s game.
The good
- The Flyers could not have scripted a better response to the Timo Meier power play goal that gave New Jersey a short-lived 1-0 lead. The four-goal eruption seemingly came out of nowhere.
- Even apart from the four goals, the Flyers cranked out a strong all-around first period at five-on-five. They limited the Devils to a single high-danger chance and had 6-3 overall edge in scoring chances at even strength.
- The Michkov and Brink goals were critical to the Flyers taking — and then insuring — control of the game. Big lift for both players and the team.
- Despite allowing three goals, Vladar was once again excellent in net.
- Sean Couturier’s response to his turnover that led to Meier’s power play goal. For the rest of the game, he made numerous good plays.
- Cates the Catalyst.His three first-period points were at the crux of the game turning in Philly’s favor.
- The Flyers cranked up their transition game. That’s been lacking this season after being a strength in recent years.
- Strong night for both the second and third defense pairs overall.
The bad
- The Flyers have now given an opposition power play goal in three straight games. That’s a trend that needs to end.
- Philly’s lead was never in serious danger. However, they allowed a combined 22 scoring chances (eight high danger) over the second and third periods. Vladar had to work a little too hard at times to keep the Devils at bay.
- Philadelphia went 0-for-4 on the power play.
The ugly
- Starting with Couturier’s failed clear, the Flyers never regrouped on the penalty kill that led up to Meier’s goal. The Devils had four high-end scoring chances. The PKers let down Vladar on the extended sequence.
- Going into the third period, Philly had one job to do: bottle up the Devils, counterattack when possible and give Vladar a routine final 20 minutes. The outcome was fine. The Zegras breakaway goal punctuated the win. Even so, this was not a textbook closeout.
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Tagged: nhl, philadelphia-flyers